|
19/20 February, 1944; LEIPZIG:
If the previous raid had been relatively quiet for the squadron
then the Leipzig trip proved to be quite the opposite. Again
Bomber Command put up over 800 aircraft, but this time as they
crossed the Dutch coast the German night-fighters were waiting,
and a running battle ensued all the way to the target. False
wind forecasts had many aircraft reaching the target area too
early
The losses suffered by Bomber Command on this night were horrendous
-78 aircraft and crews, which included 44 Lancasters and 34 Halifaxes;
this figure represented 9.5 per cent of the force. The Halifax
IIs and Vs would never be asked to operate over Germany again
following this raid.
Reported missing was 21 year-old pilot,
F/Sgt Ed White (JB469) and crew who were all killed when B-Baker
was shot down; they are buried together in Hannover War Cemetery
with the exception of Sgt James Ellis the W/Op, who sadly has
no known grave but is remembered at Runnymede.
Lancaster JB469 (EA-B)
F/S E. White Pilot (Killed)
Sgt J.R.
Ward F/E (Killed)
Sgt W.W.
S. Compton NAV (Killed)
Sgt J.E.
Ellis W/OP (Missing)
Sgt D.N.
Stevens A/G (Killed)
Sgt J.T.
Loveland B/A (Killed)
Sgt H. Thomas A/G (Killed)
Crew on their 4th operation
|
